This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com

Race to succeed Hampton crowded

Leading the Ontario NDP has been called the most thankless job in provincial politics. And that's what New Democrats say about it privately.

Howard Hampton rolls up his sleeves before announcing on June 14, 2008 that he will not seek re-election as leader at the party's next convention. (TONY BOCK / TORONTO STAR) | Order this photo

By Robert BenzieQueen's Park Bureau Chief

Sat., June 28, 2008

Leading the Ontario NDP has been called the most thankless job in provincial politics.

And that's what New Democrats say about it privately.

"Who the hell wants it?" scoffs one senior party insider, who, like many others interviewed by the Star,requested anonymity so he could speak freely about internal matters.

With a fractious caucus of 10 MPPs, the party is mired in third place in the Legislature, still haunted by the tumultuous 1990-95 tenure of former premier Bob Rae, now a Liberal MP.

The Green Party is threatening to lure away tree-hugging NDPers while Premier Dalton McGuinty's governing Liberals are attracting traditional New Democrats in policy areas as disparate as poverty and manufacturing.

Article Continued Below

Yet the race to succeed NDP Leader Howard Hampton, 56, who has guided the left-leaning party since succeeding Rae in 1996, is shaping up to boast a surprisingly crowded field.

"There's any number of good, capable, exciting people who are going to be announcing their leadership ambitions over the course of the next few months from both within the caucus as well as outside the caucus, I'm sure," says NDP House Leader Peter Kormos.

"I'm looking forward to an exciting campaign ... I think the people of Ontario are going to be excited by the sort of people who come forward," says Kormos, who is unlikely to run even though he was a kingmaking runner-up to Hampton 12 years ago.

While the official campaign does not begin until July 15, candidates are already out there selling memberships in readiness for the convention in Hamilton next March.

The consensus front-runner is MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth), a former city councillor and Greenpeace executive who shares a riding with federal NDP Leader Jack Layton.

Sources say Tabuns, 56, has the support of popular MPP Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park), herself an oft-rumoured leadership hopeful, and he has been criss-crossing the province building support.

"He has an excellent organization, but some animosity has developed toward Tabuns and you might see an `anybody-but-Peter' movement emerge," says another party insider, referring to the resentment over Tabuns' overt campaigning before Hampton even made his departure official two weeks ago.

MPP Gilles Bisson, (Timmins-James Bay) is planning a bid and sources say he could have the most money to work with because he is well regarded by mining firms in the North. There's a $500,000 spending limit for the contest and Bisson, 51, who uses his own plane to traverse his massive riding, may well enjoy a cash advantage.

From the labour movement, both Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario president Sid Ryan, who has repeatedly failed to win seats for the NDP provincially and federally, and former Ontario Public Service Employees Union president Leah Casselman are mentioned as possible contenders.

Because unions affiliated with the NDP receive 25 per cent of the leadership ballots, labour will have a big say in choosing the ultimate winner. The remaining 75 per cent belong to rank-and-file party members, so selling memberships at $25 apiece, or $5 for students and the less fortunate, is crucial in a one-member, one-vote election. The deadline for sales is January.

In part, that's because there is so much uncertainty about the timing of the next federal election.

Still, a popular parlour game in New Democratic circles is guessing which, if any, outsiders would want to take the plunge.

"I'm going to throw a name out at you: André Marin," says a party official, referring to the headlining-grabbing Ontario ombudsman.

"He's young, speaks both official languages ... and you could argue he's the most effective opponent in the province of this (Liberal) government," says the insider. "Would he even consider it? I don't know."

Even against this backdrop, party members are optimistic that the next nine months could give birth to a new NDP, unencumbered by its recent past. "People are ready to see the Rae years put to rest," says one weary insider. "Finally."

With files from Rob Ferguson

Delivered dailyThe Morning Headlines Newsletter

The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. You can unsubscribe at any time. Please contact us or see our privacy policy for more information.

More from the Toronto Star & Partners

LOADING

Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or distribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited and/or its licensors. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com